Israel to Hamas terrorists: “Surrender” – The night at a glance
Published: Monday, Dec 11th 2023, 07:01
Updated At: Monday, Dec 11th 2023, 07:01
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Despite the increasing number of civilian deaths, Israel wants to further intensify the war in the Gaza Strip against the Islamist Hamas - and is spreading confidence of victory. The war will continue, "but this is the beginning of the end of Hamas", predicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message on Sunday evening. "To the terrorists of Hamas I say: it's over. Don't die for (the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia) Sinwar. Surrender - now". Meanwhile, international criticism of his government's actions is growing in the face of an increasingly catastrophic situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Blinken: Hamas could simply lay down its weapons
According to the United Nations, half of the population in the Gaza Strip is now starving. There are warnings around the world that the unbearable suffering is only driving more Palestinians into the arms of Hamas. When asked when Israel intends to end this intense phase of fighting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken replied in an interview on the US television channel CNN: "These are decisions that Israel has to make". But it is also up to Hamas. Instead of hiding behind civilians, it could simply surrender. "They could lay down their weapons tomorrow, they could surrender tomorrow, and then it would all be over," says Blinken.
Israel: More than 22,000 targets already attacked
According to the Israeli military, it has already attacked more than 22,000 targets since the war began a good two months ago. The coastal area on the Mediterranean sealed off by Israel is only slightly larger in area than the city of Munich. The army announced on Sunday evening that several commanders of two northern Hamas brigades, which are supported by around 14,500 men, had been killed. The army published the names of the "eliminated" men.
For the first time, artillery troops are now also being deployed inside the Gaza Strip, in addition to tank and ground troops. Until now, the artillery troops have been deployed from the border line. According to Israel, Hamas has been counted out. According to information from National Security Advisor Zachi Hanegbi on Saturday evening, not only are around 7,000 Hamas terrorists already dead. According to official reports, more and more Hamas fighters are also laying down their arms. "In the last few days, dozens of Hamas terrorists have surrendered to our armed forces," declared Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Report: There can be no question of mass capitulation
In recent days, the army has published videos from northern Gaza in which arrested Palestinian men can be seen wearing underpants. However, the newspaper "Haaretz" wrote on Sunday, citing unnamed representatives of the security forces, that only around 10 to 15 percent of the several hundred Palestinians arrested so far belonged to Hamas or organizations affiliated with it. There could be no question of a mass capitulation at present, they said.
Report: Israel wants to stop pictures of half-naked men in Gaza
Following outrage over the images of prisoners in their underpants, Israel wants to prevent further dissemination of such images. According to "The Times of Israel", National Security Advisor Zachi Hanegbi said on Sunday evening that suspects should be searched to ensure that they are not carrying weapons or explosives. However, the pictures of them in their underpants would "serve no one". He expected their distribution to be stopped. The pictures have raised concerns about Israel's arrest procedures in Gaza and raised questions about possible rights violations or degrading treatment, the Times of Israel wrote.
The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other groups on October 7 in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip. More than 1200 people were killed in the unprecedented attacks. Israel responded with massive air strikes and, since the end of October, a ground offensive in the area. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, around 18,000 people have now been killed and more than 49,200 injured.
"Of course everyone wants this campaign to end as soon as possible," Blinken told CNN. But any country that has been attacked in the most brutal way by a terrorist organization that has repeatedly said it would do so again and again "has to get to the point where it is confident that it can't happen again," Blinken continued. His country had previously vetoed a draft resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire in the UN Security Council.
As the Israeli news website Ynet reported on Monday night, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, plans to visit Israel at the end of this week. Sullivan will meet with senior officials in Jerusalem to discuss, among other things, increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
WHO: Consequences of the conflict catastrophic
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the devastating situation in the coastal area sealed off by Israel on Sunday. "The consequences of the conflict on health are catastrophic," he said at the start of a special session of the WHO Executive Board in Geneva. In the evening, the Council adopted a resolution without a vote which, among other things, calls for an expansion of humanitarian aid deliveries. The USA, Germany and other countries criticized the fact that the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 was not mentioned and condemned in the text.
What will be important on Monday
The European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels will also discuss the war in Gaza. The situation of the civilians is becoming increasingly unbearable.
©Keystone/SDA
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